Cinderella

The Arts Centre looked full to bursting when we took our seats just before curtain up for the matinee performance of Centre Stage’s annual panto.  Word had obviously got out that this was something not to be missed.

Putting your own stamp on a Pantomime can be a challenge for a writer, as the audience is bound to have certain expectations.  Cinderella is a classic love story with a famous plot and well known characters. Any deviation from this is sure to come under scrutiny. The banter between the ugly sisters often involving Baron Hardup’s valet Buttons, the transformation of Cinders into a Princess going off to the ball and the final wedding scene are, to my mind, non-negotiable aspects of this most famous of Pantomimes.   

Billie Allen is to be admired for choosing to write and direct her own version of Cinderella.   She chose not to include Baron Hardup but Cinders told the audience that her father had died and naturally this brought expressions of sympathy, after which we hardly noticed he was missing!

Of the principals, Charlotte Kowalski made a lovely Cinderella and quickly endeared the audience to her character.  There were good performances from Chris Griffey and Cian Harriss as the Prince and Dandini and Graeme Johnston and Steven Roach as ugly sisters Marge and Tina were predictably grotesque in their outrageous costumes. Some good comic acting all round.

Emma Letcher appeared far too nice as Step Mother. Her acting was good but her costumes and make-up could have been more flamboyant and in keeping with those of her daughters. (I hesitate to call them the ugly sisters as they were not referred to as such in the programme).  This was a pantomime that did tend to stray away from the traditional.

A nice performance from Jaqui Player as Fairy Godmother.  Some new twists on the character which for the most part worked well.

Nick Selin was brilliant as Buttons.  A lively and energetic performance which quickly got the audience on side.  Very well done

This was a vibrant, colourful production which moved at a good pace. The cast were in good voice and there were some great comical moments.  The back-stage crew’s interaction with the cast was a nice touch.

Well done to Charlotte Scammerton for some terrific choreography, performed by the company with gusto and great precision.

Although the main characters were in traditional costumes the rest of the cast seemed to be in an assortment of styles. The transformation of Cinderella to princess did not really work.  It was rather obvious, at least to the adults that her ball gown was hidden under her cape, and a smooth transition proved difficult to achieve. The ball was certainly a ball with a difference with plenty of upbeat music and dancing.

The scenery was good as was the lighting and sound.  The band under the direction of MD Tony Trott provided brilliant accompaniment and ensured there was never a lull in the proceedings. 

This was a panto with a mix of traditional and modern and with more than a nod to political correctness.  It was well received by the audience and rightly so.  Despite my reservations as noted in this report, this was a good production performed by an enthusiastic and well rehearsed cast.

Very well done to all involved and thank you for inviting me.

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